Firefighters rescue hikers stranded above Kaaawa

Two men who got stranded overnight while hiking in the hills above Kaaawa were rescued by Honolulu firefighters late Wednesday morning.

A Honolulu Fire Department helicopter found a safe landing zone where firefighters got off and helped the two hikers, ages 32 and 19, back onboard, Honolulu fire Capt. Terry Seelig said. The hikers were then set down on flat ground about 10:10 a.m. Neither appeared injured although one complained of nausea, he said.

The two hikers spent Tuesday night along a cold, wet ledge above Kaaawa Valley after cloudy weather made it impossible for firefighters to reach them, Seelig said.

The two called 911 about 5:35 p.m. Tuesday apparently after they missed a fork along the hiking trail and wound up on a steep ledge where they could not continue hiking either up or down, he said.

Firefighters returned early Wednesday morning but were forced to wait until low cloud covering could clear.